ANGLING NOTES:IT was a pleasure to attend the presentation of prizes to the winners of the nationwide schools' Something Fishy competition at the Central Fisheries Board headquarters in Swords recently. The reception area was packed as pupils, teachers and parents gathered for the occasion.
As proud as punch, the 30 pupils from Robertson National School, Ballintra, Co Donegal, stepped up to receive the national award for 2010 from Rob Ross of RTÉ’s Ice Show for their winning entry on eels entitled Eelusive.
They looked at all aspects of the eel life-cycle, examining how they live and behave as well as delving into the decline of the eel population and what is being done about it.
Each participating school was required to produce a class project based on the lessons in the Something Fishy packs that were available in English and Irish.
Something Fishy is aimed at fifth and sixth class pupils in primary schools. The intention is to inform students on water quality, fish, the environment and angling. The project was developed by the Central Fisheries Board (CBF) and Blackrock Education Centre to create lesson plans and activity sheets based on the life cycle of salmon.
Hailed as an instant success, the programme soon expanded to involve the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire to produce a web-based resource for the project. This led to the development of the website somethingfishy.ie.
Since its inception in early 2000, interest has mushroomed and there are now 130 schools participating nationwide. Something Fishy will continue for the foreseeable future and the committee predicts an even greater interest in next year’s competition.
Dr Ciaran Byrne, CFB chief executive, said: “Each year we are overwhelmed by the high standard of entries. Something Fishy is a project in which all students learn about our environment as well as learning about our fisheries. This knowledge will be carried into adult life and so helping the community to protect our environment.”
-On Saturday week, I took part in a boat outing with Howth SAC fishing out from Ballyhack in Co Wexford. The two resident charter boats, Orinocoand Wild Swan, provided a fantastic day's fishing off Hook Head for the 18 anglers.
Codling dominated catches, some to 3kg (6.6lb), and there was a large variety of species including pollack, whiting, ling, pouting, coalfish and even octopus. Mackerel, however, were surprisingly scarce.
Skipper Jim Foley, said: “We hope to take delivery of two smaller Newhaven boats later this month. These will allow us work in shallow areas for species such as bass.” Contact Jim at 087-6781245 or mermaidangling@live.ie.
-Summer has arrived. The first blue shark of the season was caught last Tuesday week by Dutch angler Teun Den Dulk while fishing from the Lady Patricia, which was skippered by Niall O'Sullivan from Courtmacsherry Angling Centre, Co Cork.
The fish, measuring 2.3 meters in length, was tagged and released as part of the conservation policy administered by the CFB. Throughout the day, the group landed a further four shark.
-Local angler Martin McCracken caught a fantastic salmon of 10.5kg (23.21lb) on the local stretch (high bank) of the River Corrib below the salmon weir last Friday week.
“It pained me greatly to kill such a specimen. Last year I received a gold medal from the Central Fisheries Board for releasing 18 salmon; this year, however, we are not permitted to release any fish, The fisheries board say it is because there are no proper catch-and-release facilities. It took me 45 years to catch such a fish,” he said.
-The Irish Game Fair Country Lifestyle Festival takes place this Saturday and Sunday at Shane's Castle, Co Antrim. This year's angling exhibits include a broad range of tackle, boats and fishing holidays. Casting instructor Glenda Powell will provide demonstrations. Women and children are particularly welcome. For further details, see irishgamefair@btinternet.com
angling@irishtimes.com